I have just had an enquiry from a gentleman aged 75 years, he lost his labs a number of years ago and because of the heartache his wife didn't want more dogs. He has now sadly lost his wife and feels that although taking on a puppy would be unfair to the dog, as an active gentleman he'd like an older labrador.

I have no problem with this but after making enquiries with other breeders some of them do. Surely dog ownership should be only for the young, I know labs can be hard work but this gentleman has had them gfor years and so knows what he is taking on.

What do you all think?

He is based in Devon, does anyone know of an older black dog who needs a special home? I have been unable to locate one.

I think it would depend on the person's health and fitness. If they were able to care for the dog properly then yes. My grandfather was breaking up concrete drives with jackhammers at that age - walking a dog would have been no bother. Then again I know 50 year olds who can't walk down the street.

I've PM'd you with a couple links.

I think it's absolutely fine. Apart from a few batty old women () with little dogs that they have no control over some of the best owners I've met have been elderly. They seem to have far more patience with the dogs and of course infinitely more time. As long as the dog is carefully matched to the owner (you obviously wouldn't want to give him a dog that resembles a steam roller going down the road :D) I don't see a problem with it. Hope he finds what he's looking for.

Funnily enough I've been thinking about the same thing.  My parents have one Yorkie and one Silky left (Mum used to show) and the youngest one of the two is now 11.  Mum says that when they're gone she wants to get an older retired racing greyhound.  It'd be one of the best homes I could think of for a dog but their age does worry me a little.  Dad's 81 and Mum is 74.  There would be no problem if anything happened to them regarding the dog as all six of the children (well, I say children - I'm the youngest at 42! LOL) are dog lovers and one of us would take it on.  But would it be fair on the dog?  I don't really know the answer.

Debs

Hi Debs

As an owner of a retired greyhound myself I would tell your parents go for it. As long as they can give the dog (or someone can) at least a 20 minute walk a day they would be the perfect owners and a greyhound would be the perfect companion. My greyhound is a lazy so and so and as long as he gets his walk, food and a comfy bed to lay on (usually sofa) he is one happy boy lounging about all day. I know my local rescue would jump at re homing with your parents and they have many older owners.

Thanks Izzy that's really good to hear :)  Mum is pretty active.  Dad tries hard to keep going but he gets tired due to his heart problems.  The dogs they have now still go out twice a day :)

Debs

Hi Debs

Glad I could help.

The best thing about greyhounds is that they walk perfectly at any pace whether it be amble or power walk. Mine ambles with my 5 year old and runs like a loon with my 8 year old and enjoys both. Of course they are supervised and only when its safe for them to walk him (not near roads etc) but having 2 newfs aswel that of course they don't get to walk they love it that they can walk him on his lead and they feel really grown up.:)

As you can probably tell I tend to try and get everybody to give a greyhound a home. :)

Hi

Give me his details and I will contact him as we often have quite a few oldies that we rehome through rescue to older people as they often are such good company for each other :)

Lucy
xx

Have sent you his details. Thanks for that.

You better tell him where you got his details from.

Like you and he say, might be a problem with a bouncy youngster, but if he's fit still, and has made provisions for anything happening to him, he sounds good for an older unwanted dog. :-)

I normally just tell people no I don't have anything at the moment and don't know of anyone but this enquiry has really got to me the gentleman just sounds so wonderful and definately loves labradors

Thanks and have done :)

Well done LJS, I'm sure you will find him a wonderful dog. :-)

75 aint what it used to be!  My Grandfathers 89 :-D and he can outwalk most of us, loves walking, fresh air and is out for a good 2 hours a day with his dogs.

As long as this gentleman is fit and well, he will probably be a better owner than most youngsters, more time, more patience and more love to give.

My Dad is 73 and the person I call out when I ahve a domestic emergency like my dishwasher flooding :D

I think most should depend on contingency plans. I.e. what happens to the dog if he becomes unable to walk it, or if he gets ill or dies? Are there plans for such a scenario? If there is, then I see no problem. My mother in law wanted a new dog when her last one died. She's 80 and disabled and cannot even walk the dog, but we still got her a rescue Labrador. Because we have everything sorted. For now, the dog keeps her company, she feeds her, pays for her food and vet fees etc, but the rest of us walks her. (There's myself, my husband and my stepson.) Should my MIL die or become very ill, the Lab would become my dog -simple as that. (This is why I myself picked the dog from the rescue. I knew I had to pick one that would fit in with my own dogs should I have to take her on permanently.)

Likewise years ago when my grandparents were alive they were devastated when their dog died, but felt they were too old to get another. My mother and I both kept saying to them that if anything were to happen, we promise you we will take the dog so you don't need to worry. However my grandparents still felt unable to get another dog, feeling they'd die before the dog. In the end they lived for another 19 years so could easily have had another dog and I always felt it was such a shame they had to lose out.

I agree with most, It does depend on his health etc:
And as he has had the breed before knows what he is taking on.
I know a 78 year old lady, that is still very active, goes on two holidays a year and enjoys life to the full!!
Also I know a 84 year old lady that is still showing and breeding her adorable large breed dogs

I hope he does find a dog, sounds like a lovely home. My neighbour is 72 and regularly comes out for 3 or 4 hour walks with me :)

I'm sure most rescue orginisations would take the dog back should the worst happen. The only small doubt I would have is do people visit him regularly, if not what happens if he dies and nobody notices for ages. Mind you the same could apply to any of us that live alone, it's something I was concerned about for my dogs and I'm only 39.

My father in law always wanted a dog but his wife wouldn't have one, when she died earlier in the year he contacted an agency who boards dogs in peoples homes when they go on holiday or in hospital.  

He now looks after other peoples dogs, the agency only sends him small dogs or elderly ones and he loves doing it.  He realised that he was getting on a bit to have a dog of his own, but this way he gets companionship without worrying what would happen if something happened to him.  It also bumps his pension up a bit too.

He is 83, but still very active.

As with everyone else's posts, considering good health and activity, I would home an older lab with him... My grandmother was still jumping on buses and doing her own shopping.. even painting the ceiling at the ripe age of 93...

My stepmother who is now 74 enjoys her walks with her rescue greyhounds, and is a helper and fundraiser with our local greyhound rescue...

Age is irrelevant... if he is healthy and able ... giving an older dog a loving forever home, and giving an older person a reason to get up in the mornings ;)

YES!  as long as the gentleman is in good health and is active then there is no reason not to.

>>Surely dog ownership should be only for the young<<

Where do you draw the age limits? 
It is proven through studies that pets and the elderly do good for eachother.  The elderly experience lower blood pressure, more exercise, and calmness.

I would hate to have to go to a breeder, and because of a few gray hairs, not be able to get a new puppy. 

It shouldnt be based on age, but on whether or not the person could care for the dog.  BTW I know many young people that are more "lazy" than some older people.  In a day and age. where the cool thing is to play video games all day, I would be more concerned selling a pup to a person in their 20's than a person who is older. 

>In a day and age. where the cool thing is to play video games all day, I would be more concerned selling a pup to a person in their 20's than a person who is older. 

Absolutely. An older person isn't likely to be at work full time, or going out for hours in the evening, so in that respect they can be a much better bet than a younger person.

Or about to have kids so that the dog gets pushed out!

Surely dog ownership should be only for the young

Sorry that should read :

Surely dog ownership should NOT be only for the young.

sorry should have re read it ! opps

Funny that - I read it as you meant to write it! Didn't even realise the mistake

Please don't think we are all like that. I am 20 yrs old and don't play video games. Yes I watch TV but usually this is the time that the dogs get my attention as I am not doing work or busy around the house. I walk them for at least 1 and 1/2 hrs each day (well no more the little one). Even though I no longer walk the little one I still do the walk as I like walking. I do loads of sport and love it. I know you didn't say we are all like that but there are still some of us about who love walking our dogs.

I have made so many friends on walks who are much older than me and we have great conversations about all sorts of things. I know they are usually suprised to see someone young who has many of the same opinions about the world as them.

>>Please don't think we are all like that. I am 20 yrs old and don't play video games. Yes I watch TV but usually this is the time that the dogs get my attention as I am not doing work or busy around the house. I walk them for at least 1 and 1/2 hrs each day (well no more the little one). Even though I no longer walk the little one I still do the walk as I like walking. I do loads of sport and love it. I know you didn't say we are all like that but there are still some of us about who love walking our dogs.<<

I dont think all 20 somethings are like that, or I would be making judgement on myself as well (I'm 24).  It just seems, that a great deal of people who I used to be friends with either wanted to play Grand Theft Auto all day, or this new Hero's game.  Needless to say I dont hang out with them any more.

I personally, enjoy walking my dogs, doing dog sports, and just all around spending time with my dogs.  I usually walk them once a day (for a great walk) -except right now with an injured foot, but they are still all getting exercise.

I applaud those 20 somethings that dont waste away of a sofa with video game controllers permantly attached to their hands.  I was just making a statement, about a majority of people my age (and younger) that I know.  I personally would ask a lot more questions to those in my age group, than a person who is 75 and has had dogs before and knows what they are getting into, is all.

Sorry if you took offense to my statement, I was not intending it that way.

No offence just stating that some 20 yr olds - me and you are sensible and would hate to be stuck inside all day. I too have known people just sit around all day playing on the computer and I just couldn't stand it.

I wish I knew more people who liked dogs my age because I am always feeling a bit out of it at uni. I do like going to shows but it is just too expensive for me both just to visit or show the petrol or train costs just get ridiculous.

I hope you didn't think that I took what you were saying as a sweeping statement (I am not great at getting my point across in writing) just wanted to point out that each person is different.

There may be some brill 20, 30,40,50,60,70,80... yr olds and there may be some really awful once but that is where the questions come into it.

Sorry

me to supervisla! 22 m'self and everyone at uni and work think i'm mad for how much i love dogs, so its not only you. it's not just the money getting to shows its time with uni and pt work.

I know it is so hard. I have to stop myself from talking about dogs to my friends. I seem to have no time as I work at the weekend. I have two days off a week from uni which are spent fitting in all the work. Good luck with getting your dog. I have mine with me and she has helped me so much as I felt so homesick last year without a dog.

i imagine. my family (and thus dogs) live nearby but its finding time to even get back home. classes, coursework, friends, boyfriend, work... mad :rolleyes:. bring on graduation.

I agree you can't go by age...  you should see some of those 80+ year olds zap round the agility courses!  If only I were as fit! They really put me to shame!

It seems quite normal for 70 year olds to be tearing round agility fields..not that it's go down well to refer to any as elderly!

When my Grandad was in his late 70's his last dog died and it broke his heart because he believed it unkind to get another dog and one day die and orphan his dog.  He is now 98 and still as fit as a fiddle.

I am just in the process of rehoming a 12 year old Springer to an 81 year old lady, who still digs her own allotment, and i'm sure it will be a match made in heaven, and as for contingencies, her son will have the dog if anything happens and if for any reason he can't take him, he will come back to us at Rescue